Vampire Therapist
- July 18, 2024
- Little Bat Games
- 10h median play time
Even the undead have problems... help them work through their issues and you might even work through some of your own.
In "Vampire Therapist" , play as Sam, a reformed vampire gunslinger turned therapist, helping other bloodsuckers find inner peace in a narrative adventure simulator. With a star-studded cast, the game blends humor and real therapy concepts, exploring the challenges of immortality and self-acceptance. It's a unique mix of What We Do in the Shadows, My Dinner with André, and therapy education. Help your fellow vampires learn to love themselves in a world that often feels alien and hostile.
Reviews
- The game features excellent voice acting and well-written characters, making the narrative engaging and immersive.
- It cleverly integrates cognitive behavioral therapy concepts into the gameplay, allowing players to learn while having fun.
- The unique premise of being a cowboy vampire therapist provides a humorous and refreshing take on both vampire lore and mental health themes.
- Some players have reported technical issues, such as lag during transitions and minor bugs that can disrupt the experience.
- The game lacks meaningful choices, as players often feel railroaded into specific actions or dialogue, which can detract from the sense of agency.
- Certain themes, particularly around consent and sexual content, have made some players uncomfortable, leading to mixed feelings about the game's handling of sensitive topics.
- humor55 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging voice acting, and the ability to balance lightheartedness with deeper emotional themes. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and relatable moments, often finding themselves laughing out loud while also reflecting on serious topics like therapy and mental health. However, some critiques mention that certain repetitive jokes can become tiresome, and a few players felt that the humor occasionally detracted from the overall narrative focus.
“The voice acting is phenomenal, the stories of each vampire just draw you in, and I love the quippy humor inserted in the mix.”
“It's honestly so fun, like you actually do learn some psychology from playing yet it doesn't lose its charming and unique humor.”
“The game's treatment of the experience of therapy is funny and at times scarily relatable, while still respectful and well researched.”
- story53 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and well-written characters, blending humor with deeper themes related to psychology and human behavior. While some players appreciate the unique narrative and the educational aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy, others feel that the political undertones and lack of impactful choices detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of beautiful art, superb voice acting, and a compelling storyline makes it a memorable and thought-provoking game.
“The storytelling is fun, and the use of CBT principles is really interesting.”
“The story, dialogue, and characters were really well-written and moving.”
“Beautiful design, funny and witty dialogues, and innovative gameplay with an engaging story.”
“It becomes a long-winded diatribe against a certain portion of society, and that takes away from the story of 'vampire therapy' to the point my immersion and humor was ruined!”
“Despite amazing art and voice acting, the fact that you mostly just click your way through a story and do not make a single decision that has an impact on the narrative really made the game a miss for me.”
“Doing my best to not use spoilers, because I do recommend this game, I will limit myself to saying that the game has at least two storylines which show a heavy emphasis on the patient's emotional well-being with near total disregard to how dangerous they are to the people around them.”
- emotional30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised for its depth and intelligence, blending humor with poignant themes of psychological struggle and personal growth. Players report a range of feelings, from laughter to tears, as they engage with well-written characters and compelling narratives that explore emotional vulnerability and healing. Overall, the game is described as a touching and educational experience that resonates deeply, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
“This game was absolutely amazing; really interesting concept, beautiful cast of characters, high level of emotional intelligence with a touch of humor.”
“I laughed, I cried, I questioned my own sexuality, and I came to a greater understanding of my own psyche.”
“It's really an emotional journey.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging mechanics that blend cognitive behavioral therapy elements with a rich narrative, making it both introspective and enjoyable. While some players noted a tendency for repetition, the forgiving nature of the gameplay allows for a relaxed experience, encouraging exploration and growth without the fear of failure. Overall, the combination of beautiful art, excellent voice acting, and innovative mechanics enhances the visual novel experience, appealing to both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.
“This game has so much personality and I really like the mechanics; it makes me feel more engaged with the story.”
“Just 2 hours into the game and the art is beautiful, voice acting is great and expressive, gameplay is very engaging; it's an excellent visual novel.”
“Beautiful design, funny and witty dialogues, and innovative gameplay with an engaging story.”
“The gameplay does get a little repetitive after a while, but if you're a seasoned visual novel fan, this shouldn't be too much of an issue.”
“My minor nitpick being that in the very first hour of gameplay, two characters hit on you and you deny them four times in a row before being forced by the game to go along with their advances into a mini-game - it felt like a weird choice given how the rest of the game works.”
“The game provides some content warnings at the start, but it doesn't forewarn you then or at the time when it occurs that the last bit of gameplay is stopping a character's suicide attempt.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and unique character designs, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the well-crafted visuals and voice acting, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's engaging narrative and humor. Overall, the artwork is described as stylish and appealing, exceeding expectations for a visual novel.
“The art style is beautiful, the voice acting is impeccable, and the story is compelling.”
“Very consistent, appealing, and stylish artwork.”
“Not what you'd expect from a visual novel level graphics and like zero action gameplay...”
“The artwork is so well crafted that I would have loved to see some special arts of the main characters.”
“The art style is endearing, and the character designs are unique and vibrant, to match the characters' eccentric natures.”
- music10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality, complementing the beautiful art and engaging writing. Players appreciate the bopping soundtrack and excellent voice acting, which enhance the overall cozy and immersive experience. Despite some minor technical issues with volume control on certain platforms, the music remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
“Overall a great time with beautiful art, music, and writing!”
“It's a relatively short but beautiful game with amazing voice acting, music, and art.”
“The art, the sound, the music, everything is amazing.”
“The music volume doesn't stay where you've set it, which is quite frustrating.”
“The music and sound were very well done, but the overall experience was marred by technical issues.”
“There are some issues with music compatibility on the Steam Deck, particularly with volume control and menu recognition.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by unique and vibrant designs that effectively reflect the eccentric natures of the characters, enhancing the overall immersive experience. Players appreciate the captivating stories and the artistic quality of the character portrayals, which contribute to the game's engaging atmosphere.
“This game has immaculate vibes, captivating character designs, and engrossing stories.”
“The art style is endearing, and the character designs are unique and vibrant, to match the characters' eccentric natures.”
“It's easy to get a vibe for your clients just off of their portraits, and the character designs have been rather fun.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from optimization issues, with users expressing a desire for more bug fixes and performance improvements. Despite these shortcomings, the vocal performances and writing have received praise, indicating that the core experience is enjoyable.
“Great wee game with some excellent vocal performances (Edmund is a delight!) and genuinely good, fun writing.”
“I really hope there will be more bug/performance fixes soon and maybe adding a couple more tutorials, especially on the meditation mini game.”
“It's not optimized at all.”
“I really hope there will be more bug and performance fixes soon, and maybe adding a couple more tutorials, especially on the meditation mini-game.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for frequent crashes and freezing issues, particularly during the initial sequences. While some players report minor bugs and choppy transitions, these do not universally detract from the overall experience. However, the presence of significant technical issues suggests that the game may require further optimization.
“I can't even play the game because after the beginning sequence with Andy, the game crashes and the screen freezes on Andy and Sam sitting down.”
“At this moment in time, the game is slow and a bit buggy even on the latest version.”
“From a technical standpoint, the game is a little bit buggy, although not in a way that stopped me from enjoying the experience: the curtain transitions are very choppy, and I noticed that sometimes when I saved while on the screen in which you choose cognitive distortions for your next session, loading back into that save would result in a placeholder menu with no patient data loaded in, plus some other minor issues like loading when an image was being displayed might show the wrong image.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the game's atmosphere, highlighting its stunning character design and overall energy, which contribute to an immersive and engaging experience. The combination of great characters and a vibrant atmosphere enhances players' enjoyment and pride in their involvement with the game.
“The entire design of the characters and the atmosphere were just stunning, and I felt quite proud to have helped the clients the way that I did.”
“The characters are great, the atmosphere is great, and the energy is too.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's replayability is limited, as it features unnecessary obstacles that may deter casual players. It seems to cater primarily to perfectionists and achievement hunters, leaving others with little incentive to replay.
“The neck biting felt like an unnecessary and somewhat pointless hurdle between sessions to me, and unless you are a perfectionist and/or achievement hunter, I don't think this game offers much replayability.”
Critic Reviews
Vampire Therapist Review – Drinking blood is self care
Vampire Therapist is an incredibly fun play; all the characters are vibrant and interesting, the voice acting is outstanding the entire way through and yeah, vampires are hot. Everyone in this game is hot. There was clearly a lot of love and effort put into the therapy aspect of the game, too. Finding a way to add legitimate therapy techniques without making it feel unapproachable must have been hard, but it’s definitely paid off.
85%Vampire Therapist Review (PC)
Vampire Therapist manages to make the rather dry concepts of cognitive behavioral therapy interesting by linking them to interesting characters. I like how the sessions develop and how the game adds new concepts and asks players to find the best ways to use them. The voice acting is good enough to paper over some small issues with the writing. This is not an experience for players who want gameplay depth and variety. I could have done without the feeding or the meditation mechanics. Vampire Therapist tells good stories and has cool character moments but don’t take it as an actual example of how therapy works. Review key provided by the developer.
85%Vampire Therapist Review – Undead’s Best Healing Touch
Vampire Therapist may be about vampires, but there's something we can all learn from the journey of supernatural therapy.
80%